The Department of Education revealed on Monday that it will initiate investigations into five universities in response to reports of antisemitic harassment. The universities under scrutiny include Columbia University, Northwestern University, Portland State University, University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
In a press statement, the Education Department linked these investigations to an “upsurge in antisemitism on US campuses” following the violent assault on Israeli civilians by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The department referred to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which safeguards individuals from discrimination based on their nationality and is applicable to schools and higher education institutions receiving federal funds.
Just last week, President Trump signed an executive order demanding stringent action against antisemitism on university campuses. He pledged to prosecute violators and cancel visas for international students identified as “Hamas supporters”. However, this order has attracted criticism from civil rights groups, claiming the demonstrations were largely peaceful, composed of students from diverse backgrounds, including Jewish students, and that the president’s directive infringes on the First Amendment.
Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the department, criticized the Biden administration for not holding institutions accountable for allowing “extensive antisemitic harassment and the illegal encampments that disrupted campus life last year.”
While the department did not disclose specifics about the investigations or how it selected the targeted schools, it is known that at Berkeley, similar to various other universities, protestors have called for the university to withdraw its investments from Israel and urged for a halt to the war in Gaza.
Tensions at Columbia University have remained elevated due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the university’s handling of campus protests that have been ongoing since early last year. At the close of last year’s academic term, the NYPD dispersed an encampment on the quad, leading to the arrest of numerous student protesters. As a result, Columbia ended up canceling its graduation ceremony.
Last year, the presidents of both Columbia and Northwestern were summoned to give testimony on Capitol Hill as Republicans pushed for responsibility regarding allegations of antisemitism. Several university presidents, including Columbia’s Minoche Shafik, stepped down in the wake of criticism over their management of the protests.
Kristin Brown contributed to this report.
